The London Lounge

Dear Sirs,

I am seeking your advice in regard of which style of shoes is best coupled with linen trousers. I always wear black garments and accessories and have recently bought some linen trousers to cope with the summer heat, but now the dilemma of wich summer shoes to wear with them is haunting me. I would be interested in knowing which of the following styles you would choose:

- black canapa
- black suede
- black straw (almost impossible to find)
- black matte

and also if you have any special advice regarding a particular brand or retailer. My personal choice would be either black matte or canapa, for the record.

Thanks for your help.

Carlo La Duca wrote:Dear Sirs,

I am seeking your advice in regard of which style of shoes is best coupled with linen trousers. I always wear black garments and accessories and have recently bought some linen trousers to cope with the summer heat, but now the dilemma of wich summer shoes to wear with them is haunting me. I would be interested in knowing which of the following styles you would choose:

- black canapa
- black suede
- black straw (almost impossible to find)
- black matte

and also if you have any special advice regarding a particular brand or retailer. My personal choice would be either black matte or canapa, for the record.

Thanks for your help.

That would be black linen trousers?

Regards,
Don

Indeed, Don.

I too have black linen trousers and even though black draws in the heat more than light colored linen trousers, I still find them very comfortable in the Summer.

I like to wear them with a cream colored suede shoes, which though a stark contrast, is in keeping with the more casual nature of linen.

I think that some of the casual shoes from a company like Tods would work well.

On the other hand, I guess that if you wanted to dress up the linen trousers, maybe a black suede or calfskin loafer.....?

Dear Uppercase,

I indeed thought about a loafer or black suede shoe. The problem is that I couldn't find a decent black suede from a respectable brand, not church's nor crockett and jones and so forth. It seems that brown is the way to go for suede. There is indeed one sold here

http://www.jonesbootmaker.com/ebusiness ... .jsp?id=45,

and I think that, given the pure recreational use of these shoes ( I always think that during summer one can allow himself to have a sort of "relaxed" look, e.g. rolled-up shirt sleeves etc.. in the very end, a more casual way of strolling around), they could indeed serve me well for the price.

Loafers.. I only found sort of formal ones, with quite square or pointy tips whereas I am looking for a more rounded (but not too much), relaxed look of the shoe. Any suggestions on this would be very welcome. I will try to have a look at the Tod's selection.

My ultimate dream would be something like this:

http://www.hempshak.com/products/shoes/msh1n.jpg

but in black. It makes me think of the good old days in Italian villages, where old men would gather in the main square to sit down on benches and talk just about everything, possibly with a good straw hat and a glass of lemonade. Ah, Sicily! But I am digressing now

Thanks for your help.

Il dolce far niente.....how sweet to wear linen in the Summer, be comfortable, cool and while away the time.

Those shoes all capture the spirit.

Tods may have something for you.

Spectators
Saddle shoes
Bucks
Woven slip-ons